What are National Contact Points for RBC ?
National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct (NCPs for RBC) are agencies established by governments. Their mandate is twofold: to promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and related due diligence guidance, and to handle cases (referred to as “specific instances”) as a non-judicial grievance mechanism. To date, 51 governments have an NCP for RBC.
All 51 governments adhering to the OECD Guidelines have the legal obligation to set up an NCP. Today, NCPs make up a network and a community of practitioners, dealing with a wide array of impacts involving companies either through their operations or their supply chains. In 2020, NCPs celebrated 20 years as non-judicial grievance mechanisms.
The Annual Report on NCP activities gives insight into how NCPs addressed promotional responsibilities and handled specific instances in 2022 - Read flyer highlights and the full report here.
The RBC Compass, developed by the Norwegian NCP and hosted online by the Croatian NCP, provides companies with an opportunity to test their compliance with the OECD Guidelines.
The OECD is looking for dispute resolution professionals to include in its roster of mediators to assist in the specific instance procedure
The third Action Plan to Strengthen NCPs was approved in November 2021 and will cover the period 2022-2024. Learn about how it aims to assist countries in setting up strong and well-functioning NCPs.
NCPs have handled a growing number of specific instances that concern MNEs and the rights of indigenous peoples. Learn about how NCPs practically consider the associated challenges.
Events
- 6 November 2024 - Webinar: Responsible Business Initiatives: Environment.
In today’s world, the expectation from society, stakeholders, governments, and so on, has increased for businesses to demonstrate they operate responsibly. This means business success is not just measured by profits but also by their contributions to society and the planet. Environmental sustainability is no longer a nice to do, it is now considered a need to do today.
This is being reflected in mandatory environmental measures and initiatives creating obligations for businesses of all sizes. Measures and initiatives range from reducing waste and minimising emissions to designing sustainable products and services. Businesses now have a responsibility to operate in ways that protect and restore the environment.
Businesses should see sustainability not as a constraint but as an opportunity to innovate, gain competitive advantage and meet the demands of increasingly environmentally conscious consumers.
Register:
Join us at 11am on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, when the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will be hosting the free online event, focused on responsible business and the environment.
Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn about some of the environmental initiatives businesses need to be aware of:
For questions or more information, contact oecdncp@enterprise.gov.ie.
- 22 May 2024 - Webinar: The Irish NCP is organising through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a webinar on Wednesday, 22nd May on Responsible Business Initiatives: Rising Expectations. This webinar will focus on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), the EU Regulation for a prohibition on products made with forced labour on the Union market and the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. For information and registration, click here.
- 29 May 2024 The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, in cooperation with MVO Nederland, the German Helpdesk for Business and Human Rights, and UPJ, is organising a webinar on 29 May 2024, 14:00 - 15:30, on how to use the CSR Risk Check (Language: English). In this webinar, you will learn how the CSR Risk Check can be used in companies' due diligence procedures. You will also receive information on the latest functions of the tool and the contribution it can make to the implementation of the new regulations on responsible business conduct. Register here.
- 14 February 2024 - Webinar: The Irish Department of Enterprise, Trand and Employment holds a webinar on Responsible Business landscape highlighting three Responsible Business initiatives: The OECD Gu. idelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the proposed EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. Information and registrations here.
- 27 June 2023 - The Polish NCP organised a conference in Warsaw on the newly updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The event was held in Polish with simultaneous translation into English and Polish Sign Language. You can access the video recording here.
NCPs as grievance mechanisms
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Got a grievance related to the non-observance of the OECD Guidelines? The ‘specific instance’ procedure is designed to facilitate the resolution of disputes related to the implementation of the Guidelines by companies. Any person that can demonstrate an ‘interest’ (broadly defined) in reporting issues can file a case with an NCP.
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NCP capacity building
While all NCPs are different, they need to achieve ‘functional equivalence’, meaning that, they must function with an equivalent degree of effectiveness. To stay effective and to adapt to the fast-moving RBC context, NCPs constantly need to build capacity.
Find out more about how NCPs address the requirements of functional equivalence and build capacity
Meet the NCPs
Learn more about the different National Contact Points on the country links below.
Download contact details for NCPs
Contact us
The OECD Secretariat is responsible for coordination with National Contact Points.
Please direct any queries to rbc@oecd.org
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